Can hip surgery revive Huberdeau's Flames career? Here's how others have fared
Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau is hoping that a major surgery can help him rediscover his offensive touch.
Plenty has been made of Huberdeau’s struggles since joining the Flames, as he’s listed by many outlets as having the worst contract in the NHL.
Part of Huberdeau’s struggles may have come from nagging pain, as the 33-year-old chose to undergo hip resurfacing surgery this past March. It’s something the former star winger admitted had been bothering him for some time, and, after plenty of consideration, led him to undergo this major procedure.
Ideally, Huberdeau will be able to return to the ice pain-free and do whatever he can to help justify his $10.5 million cap hit. That said, fans shouldn’t get too eager in believing he can regain his former offensive abilities, as this surgery has proven to be a very difficult one for other NHLers to come back from.
Here’s a look at several NHLers, both current and former, who have gone through the same procedure:
Ed Jovanovski (2013)
Former rugged defenceman Ed Jovanovski was the first NHL player to undergo hip resurfacing surgery back in April of 2013. Then 36 years old, Jovanovski underwent 10 months of vigorous rehabilitation in order to try and continue his NHL career.
Jovanovski wound up being able to return for 37 games of the 2013-14 season before being bought out by the Florida Panthers and eventually announcing his retirement in 2015.
Ryan Kesler (2019)
Another player who underwent the gruelling procedure was Ryan Kesler. The now 41-year-old saw his play fall dramatically in 2018-19 due to hip pain, finishing the season with just five goals and eight points in 60 games.
Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports
Kesler underwent hip resurfacing surgery in May of 2019, and was immediately ruled out for the 2019-20 season. He eventually admitted in 2021 that he knew his career was over, though he has still not officially announced his retirement.
Nicklas Backstrom (2022)
Following a significant decline in performance during the 2021-22 season, former Washington Capital Nicklas Backstrom chose to have hip resurfacing surgery in June of 2022. He was able to return for 39 games in 2022-23, though he was a shadow of his former self with just 21 points.
Backstrom played just eight games with the Capitals in 2023-24 before announcing he was stepping away once again due to ongoing hip pain. After sitting out all of 2024-25, the 38-year-old joined Brynas IF Gavle in the SHL for the 2025-26 season.
Patrick Kane (2023)
Before Patrick Kane chose to undergo hip resurfacing surgery in June of 2023, the procedure was often thought to be a career killer. The 37-year-old has since proven that isn’t always the case.
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While certainly not the elite talent he once was, Kane has put up an impressive 163 points in 189 games. The continued production allowed him to sign a two-year, $16-million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this summer.
John Klingberg (2024)
After signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, John Klingberg lasted just 14 games due to ongoing hip issues. He wound up undergoing hip resurfacing surgery in late December that same year, prompting many to assume his NHL career was over.
Instead, Klingberg joined the Oilers late in the 2024-25 season and was able to log 19 playoff games during their run to the Stanley Cup Final. He went on to spend the 2025-26 season with the San Jose Sharks, averaging north of 20 minutes of ice time in 56 games.
Huberdeau’s future uncertain at best
Overall, the past results, albeit limited, don’t seem to favour Huberdeau or the Flames. The one positive to take from it is that the two most recent players to undergo the procedure have been able to return, though not to the same level of play as they had displayed earlier in their careers.
While everybody would love to see Huberdeau get back to the version of himself he was for years with the Florida Panthers, it feels even more unlikely now after undergoing such a major surgery.
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